Laurie Anderson has just released a new album called ‘Homeland’. Political and classic and up-to-date as always. Dolcevita of Lesekreis calls it “Rotwein für die Seele” (red wine for the soul). You can listen to the record on NPR through today, 22 June. It’s being released on Nonesuch today and will be on iTunes on 2 July. Here’s one of the songs, from Live from Lincoln Center (Episode 188, recorded on May 3, 2007).

only an expert can see there’s a problem
and only an expert can deal with the problem
and only an expert can solve the problem

I was lucky once to see her on stage in london shortly after the time the USA “invaded” Panama, and she started the second half with this very loud and very ugly noise before explaining that this was what the US forces had used outside the embassy where whatshisname was hiding.
The rest of the concert was impressive, beautiful and inspired.

Hi Chris!
Man, I’d nearly forgotten about Panama. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama says Guillermo Endara, who’d been elected president on the eve of the invasion, was the one in hiding, and that the invasion caused 400-4000 civilian deaths and 20,000 displacements, plus economic damage of 1.5 to 2 billion dollars. So bizarre that Noriega is still alive, in Paris.

Helmut and I saw Laurie Anderson and a great troupe perform Moby Dick in New York in 1999. Lyrical. Fabulous.

We mustn’t forget these things, though i’m sure there will be something to replace them that we shouldn’t forget either… i read the wiki bit and they talk about Noriega hiding in the Vatican Mission and having 3 days insanely loud rock and roll played at him.
I think he only recently arrived in Paris, and i’m not sure it’s anything other than still in prison.
Maybe they are making him watch the French football teams latest triumphs.